Cancer spread to breast??? (rash)

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jbug2
jbug2 Member Posts: 73
in Anal Cancer #1

Can the anal cancer spread to the breast a few years after treatment? 

I had a mammogram followed by a sonogram of a dense area in the right cleavage (midline of cleavage), back in spring, 2013, following my chemo & radiation treatment.  A week ago, I developed what I hoped was a poison ivy rash (from being around my brother's WV sawmill "dust"), in that same area.  I woke up this morning, instead of this "rash" being smaller, it's bigger ... yesterday was a hot day in the upper 80's, maybe the heat did this?  It's been 2 weeks since possible contact with poison ivy sawdust in WV, now I'm back home coping with the problem. 

Drat, always on the lookout for the big C.

 

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  • mp327
    mp327 Member Posts: 4,440 Member
    #2
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    jbug2

    I would seriously doubt that this is a spread of anal cancer.  It sounds like some kind of contact dermatitis to me or, as you suggested, perhaps a heat rash.  My husband commonly suffers from heat rash. 

  • eihtak
    eihtak Member Posts: 1,473 Member
    #3
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    jbug2.....

    Hi, I'd like to say stay calm but know its so hard for us to just turn off worry once we've been through what we have, but at least try not to over-react too soon.

    I have very sensitive skin and seems even more so since being treated so commonly get unexplained rashes after being outside. If I take a benedryl it usually goes away.

    In fairness, I was diagnosed with breast cancer at my one year PET scan and treatment was a double mastectomy with med to alter the action of estrogen in my body. My breast cancer was a slow growing ca called Secretory Carcinoma. It is rare and accounts for less than 1% of all BC. It is more commonly found in men/children. What may be of more interest to you though is that it was NOT related to my anal cancer. In fact it was determined that I had this slow growing tumor for over 10 yrs. It was not detectable on a mammogram and only was found because of the PET, otherwise would not have likely been found until much later and likely too late! For that reason, I feel like having anal cancer "saved" my life.

    My guess is that what you have is a sensitivity to something, but do keep watch, maybe try an allergy med, and if it continues or new symptoms like pain or discharge from nipple do get it checked.

    Please keep us posted.

    Be well.

    katheryn

  • nicotianna
    nicotianna Member Posts: 209
    #4
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    breast rash

    Get it checked .  Why wait?

    Nic

  • jbug2
    jbug2 Member Posts: 73
    #5
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    eihtak said:

    jbug2.....

    Hi, I'd like to say stay calm but know its so hard for us to just turn off worry once we've been through what we have, but at least try not to over-react too soon.

    I have very sensitive skin and seems even more so since being treated so commonly get unexplained rashes after being outside. If I take a benedryl it usually goes away.

    In fairness, I was diagnosed with breast cancer at my one year PET scan and treatment was a double mastectomy with med to alter the action of estrogen in my body. My breast cancer was a slow growing ca called Secretory Carcinoma. It is rare and accounts for less than 1% of all BC. It is more commonly found in men/children. What may be of more interest to you though is that it was NOT related to my anal cancer. In fact it was determined that I had this slow growing tumor for over 10 yrs. It was not detectable on a mammogram and only was found because of the PET, otherwise would not have likely been found until much later and likely too late! For that reason, I feel like having anal cancer "saved" my life.

    My guess is that what you have is a sensitivity to something, but do keep watch, maybe try an allergy med, and if it continues or new symptoms like pain or discharge from nipple do get it checked.

    Please keep us posted.

    Be well.

    katheryn

    Benedryl (poison ivy?)

    Katheryn:

    I am so sorry to hear about the double diagnosis, surely one is a lot to cope with.  Is there a rash with breast cancer?

    You reminded me ... I've had poison ivy before, and I took the pill form of Benedryl which cleared it up immediately.  I'll pick some OTC Benedryl up.  Who knows, maybe it will help the bug bites that I got working outside, too.

    Just me, being a worry wart, I hope.  My right breast has "dense" tissue and I can surely feel a lump.  I guess I just worry.

     

     

  • jbug2
    jbug2 Member Posts: 73
    #6
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    mp327 said:

    jbug2

    I would seriously doubt that this is a spread of anal cancer.  It sounds like some kind of contact dermatitis to me or, as you suggested, perhaps a heat rash.  My husband commonly suffers from heat rash. 

    contact dermatitis

    There was plenty of heat, and some poison ivy, too.  Everyone got a little poison ivy but everyone else's has gone away.  Only me got the rash ONLY in my cleavage.  I'll try some Benydral tabs starting tomorrow.

  • jbug2
    jbug2 Member Posts: 73
    #7
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    nicotianna said:

    breast rash

    Get it checked .  Why wait?

    Nic

    nicotianna

    By the time I got to the appointment date, hopefully it would be all gone!  Laughing  But I am due for a skin check.

  • eihtak
    eihtak Member Posts: 1,473 Member
    #8
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    jbug2 said:

    Benedryl (poison ivy?)

    Katheryn:

    I am so sorry to hear about the double diagnosis, surely one is a lot to cope with.  Is there a rash with breast cancer?

    You reminded me ... I've had poison ivy before, and I took the pill form of Benedryl which cleared it up immediately.  I'll pick some OTC Benedryl up.  Who knows, maybe it will help the bug bites that I got working outside, too.

    Just me, being a worry wart, I hope.  My right breast has "dense" tissue and I can surely feel a lump.  I guess I just worry.

     

     

    jbug2....

    Hi, there are many different kinds of breast cancer, and the journey can be much different than that of anal cancer. There is one called IBC that can present with a rash. This site has some clear pics and some people describe the rash as comparable to the skin of an orange. http://www.ibcresearch.org/visual-symptoms-of-ibc/

    When I was thrown on the BC wagon I felt even more lost than AC. The anal cancer while rare is fairly easy to understand. I never ever knew there were so many different types of BC and the such a variety of treatments and combo treatments all with varying outcomes as well!

    Read through some posts on the breast cancer site, its amazing.

    I do pray you are dealing with a skin irritation and the benedryl does the trick! But don't wait too long to get it checked.....better safe than sorry.

    katheryn

  • nicotianna
    nicotianna Member Posts: 209
    #9
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    jbug2 said:

    nicotianna

    By the time I got to the appointment date, hopefully it would be all gone!  Laughing  But I am due for a skin check.

    breast rash

    Keep us posted.

    Nic

  • sandysp
    sandysp Member Posts: 868 Member
    #10
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    immunity

    Our immune systems are a bit more compromised after the assault on our bodies. This will pass. That may account as to why everyone else's poison ivy is gone. Also, yours was in a place where the heat makes us miserable anyway ( a lot of sweat to irritate the area). 

    But everyone is right including you stating you need a doctor view point. 

    We are all here to support you.

    Good luck,

    Sandy

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